Rock News

Judas Priest Talks About NOT Being Chosen For Rock Hall

December 18th, 2017

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LAS VEGAS, NV - NOVEMBER 14: Singer Rob Halford of Judas Priest performs at The Pearl concert theater at the Palms Casino Resort as the band tours in support of the album "Redeemer of Souls" on November 14, 2014 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Ever wonder how the acts that DON’T get elected into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame find out?

Judas Priest frontman Rob Halford shared that during an appearance on a Phoenix radio station late last week. Priest was one of the 19 finalists on this year’s Rock Hall ballot and campaigned vigorously to be chosen — and even wound up fifth in the public vote conducted by the Hall but was not ultimately one of the five acts elected.

Halford read the email sent to the band from Hall President and CEO, Greg Harris noting that,

“While you didn’t garner enough votes for induction this year, you were part of a very select group of Hall Of Fame nominees. Artists are frequently on the ballot multiple times before they are inducted. For example, Black Sabbath were nominated eight times before their induction, Patti Smith seven times, Solomon Burke nine times, and both the Beastie Boys and the Yardbirds were on the ballot three times before their respective inductions.”

Harris also invited the group to visit the museum in Cleveland “if you are touring or simply traveling nearby.”

Despite not being rejected, Halford said that,

“We were thrilled and honored to be even nominated, so it’s kind of bittersweet. We got the nomination, which is something of a recognition for the work that you’ve done, but we didn’t quite get in this time but I’m hopeful that eventually we’ll get some more metal…We just feel that heavy metal music deserves more shelf space at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.”

Priest, meanwhile, is gearing up for the March release of its new album, “Firepower,” and a tour that beings March 13 in Wilkes-Barre, Pa.

Gary Graff is an award-winning music journalist who not only covers music but has written books on Bob Seger, Neil Young and Bruce Springsteen.